The worn springs of the couch creaked in protest as Jae-Hyun-Woo settled onto it, the faint smell of instant ramen still lingering in the air. Mia was in her room, the soft murmur of a children’s show a comforting backdrop to the evening quiet.

  He’d insisted she go to bed a little earlier tonight, citing the need for him to prepare for tomorrow’s dungeon. In truth, he just wanted to watch over her for a little longer, to have this peaceful time before stepping back into the inherent danger of his profession.

  He pulled his hunter gear out of his worn duffel bag, laying each piece out on the small table. His reinforced daggers, their blades scuffed and nicked from countless close calls. His sturdy, but unremarkable, leather armor, patched in several places. His grappling hook, a crucial tool for navigating treacherous dungeon terrain. His small collection of potions – basic health and stamina recovery, nothing fancy.

  As he sharpened his daggers with a whetstone, the rhythmic scraping sound filled the silence. His movements were practiced, efficient. Years of necessity had turned him into a creature of habit when it came to raid preparation. Every piece of gear checked, every edge honed. He compensated for his lack of raw power with meticulousness and a deep understanding of his equipment.

  His thoughts drifted to the D-rank dungeon tomorrow.

  The industrial district warehouse. Mechanical monsters. Higher risk, higher reward. And that feeling… that subtle wrongness he’d sensed earlier. He shook his head. Probably just nerves.

  Every hunter got them before a challenging raid. Especially an average one like him.

  He sighed softly. Average. It was the word that had defined his hunter career. Not gifted, not a prodigy, not destined for greatness. Just… average. He’d seen hunters with innate talents, with explosive power that came as naturally as breathing. He’d watched them soar through the ranks while he struggled, relying on sheer effort and a stubborn refusal to be left behind.

  But his average talent didn’t measure the strength of his resolve. It didn’t account for the fire that burned in his gut whenever he thought of Mia’s future.

  He would push through a hundred difficult dungeons, face a thousand terrifying monsters, endure any hardship, as long as it meant she was safe, that she had opportunities he never did.

  A soft padding of bare feet interrupted his thoughts. Mia stood in the doorway of the living room, rubbing her eyes sleepily. She was wearing her favorite oversized t-shirt, a hand-me-down from him that was far too big for her.

  “Oppa? You’re still up?” Her voice was a sleepy murmur.

  He set aside the whetstone and smiled, a genuine, warm smile that reached his eyes. “Couldn’t sleep, little one. Just getting ready for tomorrow.”

  She shuffled over to the couch and climbed onto his lap, snuggling into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. She felt so small, so fragile. It was a constant reminder of what he was fighting for.

  “Is it a very dangerous dungeon?” she asked, her voice muffled against his shirt.

  He hesitated. He wanted to lie, to tell her it was an easy job, nothing to worry about. But he also didn’t want to dismiss her feelings.

  “Every dungeon has its dangers, Mia,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “But I’ll be with Gun-Ho and Ji-Yoon. We’re a team. We look out for each other.”

  “Okay,” she said, but he felt a small tremor run through her.

  He held her tighter. “Hey. Remember that drawing you showed me earlier? The one where we were fighting the big monster?”

  She nodded, lifting her head slightly to look at him.

  “You drew me as being super fast, right?”

  “Yes!” she said, a hint of a smile returning.

  “Well, that’s what I’m good at,” he said, his voice gentle but firm.

  “I’m not the strongest, or the flashiest. But I’m fast, and I see things others don’t. I use my head. And I always, always make sure I come back to you.”

  He met her gaze, his own eyes conveying the depth of his promise. Her worries seemed to lessen slightly, replaced by a look of trust.

  “Okay, Oppa,” she whispered, leaning her head back against his chest.

  They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the quiet hum of the refrigerator the only sound besides their breathing. He stroked her hair, cherishing this moment of peace and connection. This was his anchor, his reason, his entire world distilled into the small, warm body in his arms.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Eventually, her breathing evened out, and he knew she had fallen asleep.

  He carefully lifted her and carried her back to her room, tucking her into bed. He stood there for a moment, watching her sleep, his heart aching with a fierce, protective love.

  He returned to the living room, the holographic map of the industrial district still displayed on Ji-Yoon’s phone screen, which he had borrowed. The warehouse complex looked ordinary, mundane. But he knew the dangers that lurked beneath the surface of this world. And he had a strange, persistent feeling that the dangers in this particular dungeon were not entirely ordinary.

  He finished packing his gear, the familiar weight of his daggers a comforting presence in his hands. He looked around the small apartment, at Mia’s drawings on the wall, at her closed bedroom door.

  I have to do this. For her.

  He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. The unease was still there, a cold knot in his stomach. But beneath it was the familiar, unyielding resolve. He was Jae-Hyun-Woo, the average hunter. And tomorrow, he would face a D-rank dungeon. He would push his limits, rely on his friends, and use every bit of his experience to survive and come back to Mia.

  He didn't know that tomorrow would be the end of his first life, and the beginning of his game against the gods.

  The shrill beeping of his alarm clock, a cheap, functional thing, ripped Jae-Hyun-Woo from a restless sleep. The remnants of fragmented dreams, filled with collapsing stone and a chilling, disembodied laugh, clung to him for a moment before dissolving into the stark reality of his small bedroom.

  He hit the snooze button with a practiced hand and swung his legs out of bed. The aches from yesterday's G-rank dungeon were still present, a dull throb in his shoulders and thighs, but they were manageable. Years of pushing his body past its limits had built a certain tolerance for discomfort.

  His morning routine was simple and efficient. A quick splash of cold water on his face, a brush of his teeth, and then he was pulling on his hunter gear. The familiar weight of the armor settled onto his shoulders, a second skin he was more comfortable in than civilian clothes. He checked his daggers, now freshly sharpened, and the rest of his equipment one last time.

  Before leaving his room, he paused by the doorway to Mia's room. The door was slightly ajar. He could see her sleeping soundly in her bed, a peaceful expression on her face. He allowed himself a moment to just watch her, the fierce protectiveness from the night before swelling in his chest. He sent a silent promise to her – I’ll be back, Mia. Always.

  He slipped out of the apartment as quietly as possible, the click of the lock echoing slightly in the silent hallway. The sky outside was just beginning to lighten, the pre-dawn glow casting long shadows. The city was still mostly asleep, a deceptive calm before the day’s inevitable activity, both mundane and monstrous.

  He met Gun-Ho and Ji-Yoon near the district's main transportation hub. Gun-Ho was already doing some light stretches, his movements fluid despite his muscular build. Ji-Yoon was reviewing notes on her phone, likely detailed analysis of mechanical monster weaknesses.

  "Morning," Jae-Hyun-Woo said, a nod to each of them.

  "Morning, Jae-Hyun," Ji-Yoon replied, tucking her phone away. "Ready?"

  "As I'll ever be," he said, managing a faint smile. He had managed to trade some lower-grade monster cores for a decent, used spear at an early-opening pawn shop. It wasn't top-tier, but the tip was sharp and the shaft sturdy.

  Gun-Ho finished his stretches and clapped him on the shoulder – thankfully, less forcefully this time.

  "That's the spirit! Let's hit this D-rank, get paid, and maybe grab some decent food for a change."

  They took a bus towards the industrial district. As they traveled, the urban landscape gradually changed. Clean, modern buildings gave way to older, brick structures, abandoned factories, and sprawling warehouses. The air grew heavier, tinged with the faint, metallic smell of industry and something else… something unnatural.

  The closer they got to the designated location, the stronger Jae-Hyun-Woo's sense of unease grew. It wasn’t just the usual pre-dungeon tension; it was a prickling sensation on his skin, a feeling that something was fundamentally wrong. He scanned the streets, his hunter instincts on high alert, but saw nothing out of the ordinary – just abandoned buildings and the occasional stray cat.

  They finally reached the warehouse complex. It was a large, imposing structure of weathered brick and rusted metal. There were no visible signs of a dungeon – no shimmering portal, no strange energy fluctuations that the public could see. But to a hunter, the air around the main entrance felt thick, heavy, almost… warped. This was the subtle signature of a dungeon forming, a tear in reality leading to another dimension.

  A few other hunter teams were also present, gathered near the entrance, their faces a mixture of determination, nervousness, and grim resolve. They were all here for the same reason: the hope of a decent payout, the necessity of clearing a potential threat before it became a dungeon break.

  Jae-Hyun-Woo stood alongside Gun-Ho and Ji-Yoon, looking up at the dark, cavernous entrance of the warehouse. The feeling of unease intensified, settling deep in his bones. He glanced at his friends. Gun-Ho looked ready, his fists already clenching and unclenching. Ji-Yoon had a focused, analytical expression, her eyes scanning the entrance.

  They were counting on him, just as he was counting on them. And he was also counting on his instincts, which were screaming that this wasn't going to be a simple D-rank clear.

  "Alright," Gun-Ho said, his voice low and serious. "Let's do this."

  Jae-Hyun-Woo gripped the shaft of his new spear, the metal cool and solid in his hand. He met Ji-Yoon's gaze, then Gun-Ho's. They exchanged silent nods, a familiar ritual before entering the unknown.

  Taking a collective breath, the three friends, the average hunter and his more talented companions, stepped forward and entered the darkness of the D-rank dungeon.